Blank Slate brought a sign for David Cook–which he saw–and she met the Idols and their families by the buses after the show…
It was a sultry, summer night and the stars were shining over Long Island tonight. 10 stars. 10 American Idol stars. Each had a moment to glitter and sparkle, giving the audience one-on-one time and making lasting, lovely memories between the fans and the artist.
Traffic was rough on the way into Nassau Coliseum. I am relatively local, so I avoided the highway exit and came in through a far more quiet entrance. And voila. My instincts were working full speed ahead: I spied the buses, I parked my car in the same rows and lot as the buses, and hurried into the arena, No time for a bathroom stop. Chikezie was singing!
More re-cap after the JUMP…
I found my section and seat and settled in for a wonderful night of music. I am sorry that I missed the beginning of Chikezie’s set. His voice is lush and full. His personality is equally lush and full. I believe he has a fine recording career ahead of him. Keep that personality Just The Way it Is, Chikezie.
Rami was short and sweet. Literally and mentally. Her voice had a nice tone to it during LOVE WILL LEAD YOU BACK. I was impressed. Is she a showstopper? Not yet. But cute as a baby button.
Michael Johns took my breath away. His voice was almost as gorgeous as he is. I really enjoyed his songs and his style. He looks as if he was born to be on the stage.
Kristy Lee Cook is supermodel pretty. Life’s not fair. If you look like that do you have to be able to sing, too?! I love my country but I could have lived without the USA number. Feels manipulative and in these troubled political times, I know I can’t be the only person in the audience who gets ill thinking about the thousands of dead soldiers for no legitimate purpose. That’s not Kristy Lee’s fault, of course. She sang the song well and she absolutely knows how to work a stage.
Carly is a dynamo. Her voice was crystal clear, matched by the intense passion she brings to every note and step. She looked beautiful, so much better than her television look. I cannot believe how frumpy the American Idol people made her look for the show. What did she do to them to deserve such shoddy wardrobe choices? It was a joy to watch her own the stage and I wish she had a longer set.
Brooke: a sunshine and daydreams breath of fresh air. Love her soulful singer-songwriter vibe. Love her cascading, romantic hair. Love her cherubic persona. A natural and gifted talent. The audience can’t help but sing and smile along.
Group Song for AI Gives Back: they sound great together and I was feeling the love. I wish there were local charities collecting donations out in the hallways and rotunda of the arena. I would have given back to show MY appreciation and gratitude in my own small measure.
Intermission: found someone I knew and near that person a fantastic single seat open in the third row dead center (in front of the center front lip of the stage). My original seat was more than fine but I was SO disappointed with the people in that section. Close to the stage and they would NOT stand up. They yelled at the standers to sit down. The guards told me to sit down. I didn’t want to be in anyone’s way so I found myself sitting with a grudge, rather than start a confrontation. But oh those 3rd row center people. Now THEY knew how to party and dance and shout and wave and scream and feel the music!
Jason was soft and charming and adorable. He has a great voice. Let him work on his stage presence and he can be a star. I am still humming DAYDREAM as I type these words.
Syesha: A powerhouse voice that rang from corner to corner of the Coliseum. Her dress was a little too revealing for what I thought the AI “brand” promoted but… I guess it’s her role to be the glamour girl of the bunch. She really gave it all, especially during LISTEN. The crowd cheered her on as the song came to its climax and we were all on our feet, clapping. She can sing like the devil but there is an aloof karma about her that keeps me from falling in love with her as an artist.
David Archuleta was phenomenal. My heart beats for Mr. Cook but I have to say Sweet Archuleta totally pulled me in and made me putty in his hands. He mopped the floor with that angelic voice and sweet stage patter. He seems floored at the adulation. There was a lot of love on Long Island tonight for David A. And I was a new convert to the train.
And then came Cook. David Cook. The man and musician I adore. He came, he saw, he conquered. He is the American “Idol” for now but he is a star for life. His showmanship is mesmerizing. He rips into the song as if he wants to swallow each note and spit it out with all his heart and soul attached. He and his guitar are ONE. And that voice. It envelopes and embraces the audience and does not let go. You lose all sense of time and place and you just want that music to go on and on. When he did the filming the audience shtick with the house lights up, I held up my little silly sign for him to read:
I AM A “BLANK SLATE” FOR DAVID COOK
I felt the connection as he stopped to read the words, What a magical moment. He pointed and nodded his head in recognition. I jumped and screamed. Contact. Fan and man. Together for a moment in time and I’m thrilled to have had the chance to show Cook a little extra love from the audience.
FINALE: I’ve seen it so many times online that it was almost hard to believe the number was live and happening in real time, real life. Michael Johns and Jason have this new wacky sidestep dance move as they curl to the end of the stage. Knowing too much has its disadvantages, too, of course; when David Cook and Michael Johns did not do their little spotlight Mavid Dance at the right moment on the ramp side of the stage, my heart went “awwwww.” I felt as if something was missing, something I looked forward to the whole show. Why did they skip their dance tonight of all nights?!
The final wave good byes: Close enough to get a groovy wave from Jason and a total love wave and smile from Archuleta. The Idols faded into the dark, David Cook closes the show and slips down into the floor… and the music has stopped.
But it was great while it played.
Leaving the bathroom from the lower level concourse, I recognized Jeff Archuleta and wished him my best. He thanked me and seemed genuinely pleased by the appreciation for his son.
The Post-Show Idolizing at the Buses: Two hours of insanity but well worth the wait. The bathroom pit stop made me miss getting a front spot along the fence but I am not complaining. I was in the second row of people and it was a lovely place to meet and greet the Idols as they made their appearances. I shook hands with all of them and told them how nice to was to meet them. They all signed my David Cook sign. (I used the reverse side, of course.) They are all so handsome and pretty up close. Even their spouses or significant others or family members got in on the act! Fans were asking for THEIR signatures and photos as well. So sweet! Mama Castro is so lovable! Brooke’s husband is beyond lovely. I had the chance to talk to them while we waited for the Idols to make their way down the lines. The only disappointment was that both Chikeze and David Cook were no-shows at the buses after the show. I would have loved to thank them face-to-face but… let’s hope they both know how much they are loved. And how happy all the Idols made thousands on Long Island tonight.
Mama Castro, Brooke’s husband, and Kristy Lee’s fiance needed a ride to the Long Island Railroad. They asked me to help drive but then one woman took them all in her car. I hope they found the train on time.
As I left the arena, I literally drove out onto the road sandwiched between the two tour buses. Where were they headed? Let them sleep and rest. Tomorrow is another big, beautiful show. I went east on Old Country Road. The buses went west.
I waved good bye to All That and drove off into the starry, starry night, feeling free and easy and happy to have connected with this amazing American Idol season. It was a joy from the first note and while the music has ended , the memories will last a lifetime.
